Smart Hard Drive detects imminent failure

[sentee]

My niece was given a computer, which may have been upgraded to Win98. She is getting an error message now, that says "1720-Smart Hard Drive detects imminent failkure. She gets as far ast he DOS screen-Microsoft Windows 98 Startup Menu, option 5 is highlighted to select the command prompt only. She also had warnings that c:\WINDOWS\DBLBUFF.SYS, and C;\WINDOWS\IFSHLP.SYS files were missing or corrupted. Does this mean her harddrive is bad? Will she be able to reinstall Win98? Or what has to happen to make her computer run again? Thanks in advance.

[jtdoom]

hi

is it a compaq machine?

the error...
http://www.bioscentral.com/misc/compaqsystems.htm

and what HP/compaq says
http://www3.compaq.com/support/refer..._CW02.xml&dt=3

[sentee]

Originally Posted by jtdoom

hi

is it a compaq machine?

the error...
http://www.bioscentral.com/misc/compaqsystems.htm

and what HP/compaq says
http://www3.compaq.com/support/refer..._CW02.xml&dt=3

Yes... it's a Compaq. I will get the model#, and other spec.s as outlined and see if they work out I will post the results... thanks for all the help.

[Spider]

Press the F10 key (on Compaqs) during bootup to enter the BIOS

Look for S.M.A.R.T. and disable it
save and exit settings in BIOS

[sentee]

Originally Posted by Spider

Press the F10 key (on Compaqs) during bootup to enter the BIOS

Look for S.M.A.R.T. and disable it
save and exit settings in BIOS

I will phone her as soon as she gets in from work... thanx...I will let you know if she gets it to work...she is not into repairing PCs. So I may have to go her. Again thanx.

[Spider]

Originally Posted by sentee

given a computer...getting an error message...also had
warnings that c:\WINDOWS\DBLBUFF.SYS, and C;\WINDOWS\IFSHLP.SYS
files were missing or corrupted

Perhaps a bit premature it high-fivein' on that fix. The errors about files missing
is another ball game.

Do you have a Windows 98 CD?

Get on the machine and make some verifications:

1. the version of WindowsXX
2. if you can boot into safe mode (F8 during bootup)
3. set BIOS boot device order to A,CDROM,C
4. if no safe mode can you get just the boot menu (F8)

[sentee]

Originally Posted by Spider

Perhaps a bit premature it high-fivein' on that fix. The errors about files missing
is another ball game.

Do you have a Windows 98 CD?

Get on the machine and make some verifications:

1. the version of WindowsXX
2. if you can boot into safe mode (F8 during bootup)
3. set BIOS boot device order to A,CDROM,C
4. if no safe mode can you get just the boot menu (F8)

Hi, it's me again...
I have her computer here now...
I get the errors:

[B]The following file is missing or corrupted...
c:\windows\himem.sys
c:\windows\dblbuff.sys
c:\windows\ifshlp.sys

I tried to do a win98 setup... the only thing I have been successful at is booting... I can see some directories dir000001 to dir000019 looks like they have some of the original windows files... but I couldn't find win.com
it also said ..

Data Error Reading drive C

c:\> Cannot find win.com unable to continue loading windows...

[jtdoom]

hi

19 folders you have to rename to the correct name CAN be done from within real mode DOS, but it ain't easy to guess the original names they had from here (renaming them to their real mode name -with a tilde in the name in some cases- would probably get that system running again, but it might still run kinda flakish)

i suggest you let us know wether it has the windows licence key stuck to the case, or the booklet, or wether you need to get the licence key from within one of the files which is stored in one of the wrongly named folders

hmmm, to get the key of a system scandisk has scrambled can still be done...

C:
cd\
dir system.ini /s

with a little luck, it shows which folder system.dat is in... system.dat itself would be hidden and a dir command will not show it
btw, that folder is the windows folder

Oh, i strongly suggest you make yourself a good boot floppy, and make sure it has attrib.exe and edit.com

if you want (and you do NEED that key), you WILL need attrib.exe soon enough...

A:\attrib C:\dir0000xx\system.dat -h
(where xx is the foldernumber where you found the system.ini file)

A:\edit C:dir0000xx\system.dat
hit the ALT button, the menus activate
edit menu has search
search for the word productkey

write it down

once you have it, i suggest you format, restart, and run setup

[jtdoom]

I assumed you did not yet have a proper start floppy.
I missed the part where you said you tried to run setup, so I have to reword a bit...

if you don't yhave it, get that key off that system.
(get at it thru attrib and edit)
once you have that key

format C: /U
when done, restart the computer
run scandisk C: /Custom

if this finishes without all too many bad spots reported, run setup

[sentee]

Originally Posted by jtdoom

I assumed you did not yet have a proper start floppy.
I missed the part where you said you tried to run setup, so I have to reword a bit...

if you don't yhave it, get that key off that system.
(get at it thru attrib and edit)
once you have that key

format C: /U
when done, restart the computer
run scandisk C: /Custom

if this finishes without all too many bad spots reported, run setup

I looked at all the directories it was two I believe that were empty... I don't recall seeing the sys.ini or other .ini files. Okay... you mentioned "key" would this be inside the computer, and what should I be looking for? I see Compaq Deskpro... and nothing else on the outside that says key. I have formatted a harddrive before so I'm familiar with that...

I've made start-up diskettes but I was in Windows... Is there a way to make a startup diskette at this point?

The first thing I asked for was a startup diskette, unfortunately they were lost or destroyed. It's an older computer, I haven't opened it yet and I'll have to wait a day or two... so if there's anything you can suggest before I open it I'm all ears(eyes).
If the system was upgraded from Windows 95 would I need any information from that operating system also, and then perform a new upgrade?

I know a little, not a lot, and appreciate everything immensely.